Stanford
Academic Advising

Academic Progress Expectations

Academic progress is monitored upon the completion of each academic quarter for all undergraduates. To remain in good academic standing, students must satisfy the following minimum requirements:

  • Earn at least 9 units of credit in a single quarter
  • Earn at least 36 units over the most recent three enrolled quarters
  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above

When a student does not meet these requirements, they are placed on an academic progress status.

Academic Progress Statuses 

There are four general types of Academic Progress statuses, to be determined by the Academic Progress Review Board (APRB):

  • Probation
  • Provisional Registration
  • Deferred Suspension (a discretionary status)
  • Suspension (1- or 3-year)

Academic Progress Statuses do not appear on the Official Transcript, but do appear on the Unofficial Transcript for the purposes of advising. The Unofficial Transcript is accessible to staff in Academic Advising, as well as Student Services Officers (SSOs) in the department or program in which a student has declared a major/minor.

Probation

A student who, for the first time, does not meet the requirements for satisfactory academic progress as set forth by the Faculty Senate may be placed on Probation. A student shall be removed from Probation if, in each of three subsequent quarters of consecutive enrollment at the University (excluding Summer), the student:

  • earns a minimum of twelve (12) units of new course work by the end of the final examination period (Note that any course for which units are earned while on an Academic Progress status, that is then repeated while on and Academic Progress status will NOT count as “new” units.); and
  • maintains at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average.

Not meeting these conditions may result in Provisional Registration or Suspension (or the discretionary status, Deferred Suspension).

Provisional Registration

A student who does not meet conditions for Probation may be placed on Provisional Registration. In addition, and on occasion, a student may also be placed directly on Provisional Registration if the student has had a prior Probation status.

A student shall be removed from Provisional Registration if, in each of three subsequent quarters of consecutive enrollment at the University (excluding Summer), the student:

  • earns a minimum of twelve (12) units of new course work by the end of the final examination period; and
  • maintains at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average.

Not meeting these conditions may result in Suspension (or Deferred Suspension).

Deferred Suspension (A Discretionary Status)

A student who does not meet conditions for Probation or Provisional Registration may be placed on Deferred Suspension. In addition, and on occasion, a student may also be placed directly on Deferred Suspension if the student has had a prior Probation status.

Deferred Suspension is a discretionary status the Academic Progress Review Board (APRB) may use, which is intended to strongly convey that the student should carefully consider whether to enroll or whether time off (i.e., Leave of Absence) would be beneficial. It may also be used in situations where students minimally do not meet the requirements of Probation or Provisional Registration and/or have very few remaining requirements for graduation (e.g., only one quarter of enrollment remaining). Finally, the status for a student whose Request for Reconsideration of Academic Suspension results in a change of status will be converted from Suspension to Deferred Suspension.

A student shall be removed from Deferred Suspension if, after one quarter of enrollment at the University (excluding Summer), the student:

  • earns a minimum of twelve (12) units of new course work by the end of the final examination period; and
  • maintains at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average.

Not meeting these conditions may result in Suspension.

Note that if conditions for Deferred Suspension are met, the student is then placed on Provisional Registration, the conditions of which must be met for three subsequent quarters of consecutive enrollment.

Suspension

A student who does not meet conditions for Provisional Registration or Deferred Suspension (or, on occasion, for Probation) may be placed on Suspension. In addition, and on occasion, a student may also be placed directly on Suspension if the student has had a prior Probation status. In general, students suspended for the first time are suspended for one year and are not eligible to enroll for four quarters (including Summer quarter) following the quarter in which the Suspension was issued. Students suspended a subsequent time may be suspended for up to three years and are not eligible to enroll for up to twelve quarters (including Summer quarter) following the quarter in which the Suspension was issued.

A suspended student should meet with an Advisor to discuss plans for the future and for advice regarding the required Request to Return and Register in Undergraduate Study that must be submitted 8-12 weeks before the intended return.

Note that any Summer quarter enrollment will be terminated for students suspended at the end of Spring quarter.

How students get off an Academic Progress status/meet conditions

A student is “off” an Academic Progress status once all the conditions of the Academic Progress status have been met (i.e., “met conditions”). For example, a student on Probation must meet the conditions of completing 12 units of new course work and maintaining a 2.0 cumulative grade point average for 3 quarters of consecutive enrollment. When those conditions have been met, the student has fulfilled the conditions of their status (met conditions) and returns to making satisfactory progress towards the undergraduate degree.

    If an instructor feels that a student may be experiencing personal or medical difficulties, please strongly encourage that student to reach out to their Undergraduate Advising Director.